Toyota 86 updated after 24 Hours of Nurburgring

AUTO NEWS

Tweaks made to the interior, exterior and even performance parts

by Eric Tipan

July 07, 2016 09:44

If you’ve been smitten by the Toyota 86 – like some people I know – then get set to fall in love all over again as Toyota Motor Corporation is set to release a facelifted version that takes cues based on race participation including the 24 Hours of Nürburgring.

The 86 continues its evolution as a sports car by gathering precious feedback from professional drivers and even owners participating in competitive rallies and races, in order to update key elements for total customer satisfaction and a heightened driving performance.

Improvements have been made to the intake and exhaust system parts of the manual transmission model so that it can achieve maximum torque at a wide range of engine speeds and for better torque at low RPMs.

As with the update released in New York earlier this year, the engine gains an additional 5 PS for a total of 207 PS while torque increases to 212 Nm.

Spot weld points have been increased on the rear pillars to improve the suspension and increase body rigidity, which in turn resulted in better steering response and riding comfort.

The exterior has been retouched including the nose fins, fog-lamp bezel fins and canards in front for better aerodynamic performance.

To emphasize a low and wide stance, the nose has been lowered and the grille opening expanded in front while the rear bumper has been horizontally expanded.

Rear combination lamps have been repositioned and now use LEDs for a better look and ‘smarter impression.’

Driver experience also improves from inside the cockpit as TMC makes vital changes to the interior. The 86 will now come with a steering wheel with a 362mm diameter, which is the smallest ever used in a Toyota. It comes with ‘a cross-sectional shape that provides an optimal grip, offering superb maneuverability and steering wheel comfort.’

The three-cluster meter built around the tachometer inside the GT and GT Limited has been modified so that the very top of the meter reads 7,000 rpm - the engine speed around which the vehicle generates maximum output. It will also come with a 4.2-inch TFT color multi-information display that will show current fuel economy, cruising distance including other data like real time including G force, power/torque curves, and a stopwatch.

As an exclusive to the GT Limited, the instrument panel and door trim will come with Grand Luxe and perforated Alcantara while both GT and GT Limited editions will come with T-mesh carbon-print in the cabin.

"We overhauled everything―primarily as a result of technological feedback from the 86's participation in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring―and repeatedly tested the vehicle on roads all over the world as we manufactured every single part. The new 86 has been perfected to such an extent that, from the moment the steering wheel is gripped and the vehicle accelerates away, every driver will be able to recognize its evolution," said Chief Engineer Tetsuya Tada, head of development of the 86.